Church History Maps

5. The Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa Area of the USA

Independence Identified as the center place of Zion (see D&C 57:3). A temple site was dedicated on August 3, 1831. The Saints were driven from Jackson County in 1833.

Fishing River Joseph Smith and Zion’s Camp traveled from Kirtland, Ohio, to Missouri in 1834 to restore the Jackson County Saints to their land. D&C 105 was revealed on the banks of this river.

Far West This was the largest Mormon settlement in Missouri. A site for a temple was dedicated at this location (see D&C 115). Here on July 8, 1838, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles received a call from the Lord to serve missions in the British Isles (see D&C 118).

Adam-ondi-Ahman The Lord identified this place in upper Missouri as the site where a future great gathering will take place when Jesus Christ comes to meet with Adam and his righteous posterity (see D&C 78:15; 107:53–57; 116).

Liberty Jail Joseph Smith and others were unjustly imprisoned here from December 1838 to April 1839. In the midst of troubled times for the Church, Joseph called on the Lord for direction and received D&C 121–23.

Nauvoo Located on the Mississippi River, this area was the gathering place for the Saints from 1839 through 1846. Here a temple was built, and ordinances such as baptism for the dead, the endowment, and the sealing of couples began. Here the Relief Society was organized in 1842. Revelations received include D&C 124–29.

Carthage Here the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred on June 27, 1844 (see D&C 135).

Winter Quarters The largest temporary settlement for the Saints (1846–48) en route to the Salt Lake Valley. The Camp of Israel was organized for the westward journey (see D&C 136).

Council Bluffs (Kanesville) The First Presidency was sustained here on December 27, 1847, with Brigham Young as President.